Electromagnetically operated switch



Nov. 13, .1934. A WALKER, JR 1,980,456

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWI TCH Original Filed Nov. 14, 1928 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 uuirs .1.

rarer trier;

ELECTRUMAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH ticn oi New York Application November 14, 1928, Serial No. 319,341 Renewed January 15, 1932 19 Claims.

This invention relates to electromagnetically operated switches, and more particularly to switches of the character which have a plurality of contactors for making and breaking electrical 1 connections simultaneously in a plurality of electrical conducting lines, as for example, a doublepole line breaker.

The invention has for its object generally the provision of a device of the character described which is efficient, economical and readily manufactured.

More particularly the invention has for its object the provision of a multi-pole switch with control circuits which are non-arcing and are automatically tie-energized upon the actuation of the main switch.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the fea- Ytures of construction, combination of elements,

and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and. objects of the invention reference should be had to th following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a double-pole switch having control circuits constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view or" a double-pole line breaker embodying the arrangement of circuits shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a side view of a device adapted to automatically actuate the control circuits shown in l; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. i.

Ref rring now to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, l0 and 11 represent main line electrical conductors of relatively opposite polarities leading respectively to the poles 12 and 13 of the switch. Contacting with each of these poles are the contact members 14 and 15 which are mechanically connected together by the rod 16, which serves as the actuathig member. The rod 16 is mechanically connected to the magnetic members 17 and 18 which are designed to move the rod 16 in one direction and to the magnet'm member 1S; which is adapted to move the rod, 16

in an opposite direction.

The contact members 14 and 15 are adapted also to contact with pole members 20 and 21 which have conductors 22 and 23 leading to the terminals of the current-consuming device 24.

By this arrangement the contact members 1% and 15 make the circuit by bridging respectively the pole pairs 1220 and 1321. It is also seen that when the contact members are out of contact with the pole members, the circuit is broken in two places so that the current-consuming member is normally dead and without any electrical connection to the live line conductors 10 and 11.

in accordance with the practice of the present invention the means for moving the contact members are actuated electromagnetically, the actuating means being under the control of control circuits arranged so that the controlling switches for the control circuits are non-arcing. This is accomplished by arranging the control circuits with respect to the contact members of the main switch so as to be substantially instantly deenergized as soon as the main switch has been ctuated, thereby avoiding any tendency to cause an are at the switch controlling the control circuits.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the control circuit for closing the main switch is provided by connecting conductors about the contact members so as to be energized when the main switch is open, and to be ole-energized when the main switch is closed. This is conveniently accomplished by connecting one portion of the control circuit which actuates a magnetic member on the rod 16 directly in shunt with the contact member 14 and a second portion which actuates another magnetic member in shunt with the contact member 15, these portions being adapted to be connected in series.

The portion of the control circuit shunted about the contact member 14 comprises the conductor leading from the live line conductor 10. Leading from conductor 30 is conductor 31 which has a winding 32 connected in series therewith, the winding being adapted to actuate the magnetic member 17. From the other terminal of winding 32 leads the conductor 33 to the terminal 34 of a switch device for controlling this circuit. This switch device has the contact-making switch 35 adapted to establish a conducting path between the terminals 34 and 36, which are on the control switch device. From the terminal 36 there leads a conductor 37 to the conductor 22, whereby this portion of the control circuit establishes a shunt connection about the contact member 14.

Another portion of the control circuit for closing the main switch comprises the conductor 41 leading from the live line conductor 11, which conductor has. in series with it the winding 42 for actuating the magnetic member 18, the other terminal of this winding being connected by the conductor 43 to another terminal 44 of the control switch device, this terminal being adapted to cooperate with the switch arm 45 adapted to establish conducting relations between the terminals 44 and the terminals 46 of the control switch device. From the latter terminal there leads the conductor 47 to the conductor 23, whereby a second portion of the control circuit for closing the main switch is connected in shunt about the contact member 15. By this arrangement of these portions of the shunt control circuits about the contact members 14 and 15, it is seen that the current-consuming member 24 comprises an electrical connection for connecting these portions in series on the dead side of the contact members 14 and 15.

members 14 and 15 to circuit opening position is connected across the line, i. e., it is connected to be subject to the potential difference normally existing between the line conductors 16 and 11. In order that this circuit may also be de-energized and rendered non-arcing to its control switch by the opening of the contact members 14 and 15, this control circuit is also connected about the contact members of the main switch, i. e., the main switch opening control circuit is connected from one live line conductor about the main switch to a normally dead conductor of different polarity. This is here shown as accomplished by connecting the conductor 51 to the live line conductor 10, the conductor 51 having connected in series therewith the winding 52 for actuating the magnetic member 19. From the otherterminal of this latter winding there leads the conductor 53 to a third terminal 54 of the control switch device. ranged to be in contact with the switch arm 45 when in another position so as to establish conducting connections between the terminal 54 and the terminal 46 which, as above noted, is conductively connected by means of the conductor 47 with the main line conductor 23, which latter is on the dead side of the contacting members but is of a polarity opposite to the live line conductor 10 by reason of the potential drop across the current-consuming member 24.

A physical embodiment of a two-pole line breaker constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where denotes an insulating base on which the pole members 12, 13, 20 and 21 are secured, these pole members being adapted to have line conductors secured thereto.

I The contact members 14 and 15 which bridge the pole pairs 1220 and 1321 are operatively secured together by the member 61 which is actuated by three electromagnets 62, 62" and 62", which correspond with the windings 32, 42 and 52 shown in Fig. 1. These electromagnets can have any convenient physical arrangement but are here shown as arranged side by side and beneath the member 41 so as to actuate the same by causing it to rise and fall, this member being supported in its upper position by suitable me chanical means, for example, a spring (not shown). The control circuits for actuating these electromagnets are connected in any convenient manner, for example, by means of the conductors shown generally at 63. These conductors may be,

This terminal also is arand preferably are, embodied in the base 60, convenient terminals, for example as shown generally at 64, being provided on any suitable portion of the base. The terminals 64 are shown as five in number and correspond to the terminals leading from the three magnet windings in Fig. 1, i. e., to the terminals of the conductors 33, 43 and 53 and to the two terminals of the conductors leading to the dead line conductors 22 and 23, i. e.

terminals of conductors 37 and 47. These five control circuit terminals are connected by suitable conductors to five corresponding terminals of the control switch device, namely, the terminals shown at 34, 44, 54, 36 and 46 in Fig. 1.

A desired arrangement of parts for a control switch device to be used in conjunction with the control circuits of the present invention is shown within the broken lines in Fig. 1. Here it is seen that two pivoted switch arms 35 and 45 are employed, one of which cooperates to establish electrical contact with but one of the magnet windings, namely, the arm 35, while the other The control circuit for moving the contact.

isdouble acting and establishes electrical contact alternately with the windings 42 and 52. These pivoted switch arms are of course actuated simultaneously by any convenientmeans, for example by means of the connecting member shown in broken lines at 65, this member being preferably of insulating material and may be manually operated.

It is contemplated, however, that an automatic control switch device may be employed instead of a manual one, a suitable automatic device being illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5, denotes a supporting base to which is attached a condition sensitive member 71 that is adapted to move the pivoted member 72 in response to changes in the condition tobe controlled. The base 70 has a portion 70 which is arranged conveniently to carry the iive terminals of the switch device. The terminals shown at 73, 74 and 7 5 correspond with the terminals at 34, 44 and 54, while the terminals shown at 76 and 76 correspond to those shown at 36 and 46 respectively. The terminal 76 has electrical connections with a pivoted switch arm shown in broken lines at 77 in Fig. 5. The terminal 76 is similarly connected to a pivoted switch arm 78, shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and in broken lines in Fig. 5.

From this it is seen that the arm 77 corresponds to that shown at 35 and is adapted to be moved upwardly into a position establishing contact with terminal 73. Also it is seen that the arm 78 corresponds to the arm 45 and is adapted to move upwardly to establish contact with terminal 74 and to move downwardly to establish contact with the contact screw shown at 79 that is electrically connected with the terminal 75 through the conductor 75'. In this arrangement the pivoted member 72 corresponds with the member shown at 65 in Fig. 1, this member being moved in one direction by the condition-sensitive member 71 and in the other direction by the resilient reacting member shown at 86. This latter is shown in the form of a spring interposed between the pivoted member 72 and the member 70'.

The condition-sensitive member may be any device which in itself has mechanical movement responsive to changes in a condition to be controlled, for example, a' 'hermetically-sealed expansible bellows filled with expansible fluid which is-sensitive to heat changes where temperature is the condition to be controlled, or an unsealed expansible bellows adapted to communicate with the source of pressure where pressure is the condition to be controlled.

In operation, when the switch arms 35 and 45 have been moved to establish electrical connections respectively between the pairs of terminals 34-36 and 44-46, electrical continuity is established from one side of the line through the shunt circuits comprising the conductors 30, 31, windings 32, terminals 3436, conductor 37, device 24, conductor 4'7, terminals 46i4, winding 42 and conductor 41 to the other side of the line. The difference of potential across the line causes current to flow in this circuit and energizes the windings 32 and 42, whereby the magnetic members 17 and 18 pull the contact members 14 and 15 of the main switch into circuit-closing position. The instant that the contact member 14 bridges the pole pair 1220, it is seen that the conductors 30 and 37, which comprise the termi nals of the shunt circuit through the winding 32 become substantially of the same potential, since there is substantially no drop across the contact member In like manner, it is seen that the terminals l1 and 47 of the shunt control circuit about the contact member 15, which energizes winding 42 become of substantially the same po tential when the contact member 15 bridges the pole pair 13-21. When the terminals of these shunt control circuits become of equal potential by reason of the closing of the contact members 14 and 15, these shunt control circuits become de-energized for lack of impressed voltage and no current flows through the magnet windings 32 and 42. Consequently, when the switch arms and i5 move to break this control circuit, there is no voltage across it, and the break is accomplished without causing any arc.

In like manner it is seen that when the switch arm 45 is moved to bridge the terminal pair 54-46, the control circuit for opening the main switch is energized, since there is electrical continuity through this control circuit from one side of the line to the other as follows: From the line 10, through conductor 51 (by way of conductor 30) through winding 52 to terminals 5i i6 and thence through conductor 4'7 to conductor 23, which, since contact member 15 is bridging the pole pair 13-21, is in conducting relation with the other line conductor 11. The difierence of potential across the line in consequence cause current to flow in this control circuit and energizes the winding 52 so as to pull upwardly on the magnetic member 19 (which is moved down to a position below that shown in the drawing when th contact members 14 and 15 are in circuitclosing position) and thereby move the contact members of the main switch to circuit-open position. As soon as the contact member 15 has broken the circuit across the pole pair 13-21, the conductor 23 is no longer a continuation of the line conductor 11 and the shunt control circuit which energizes the winding 52 is de-energized so that when the switch arm 45 moves to open the control circuit, there is no voltage across it to cause an arc. Thus it is seen that by the arrangement here shown, the control circuit for closing the main switch and the control circuit for opening the main switch are tie-energized substantially at the instant that the main switch accomplishes the closing or the opening of the main circuit.

From the arrangement shown it is seen that the practice of the present invention may be ex.- tended to the electromagnetic actuation of switches which have more than two sets of contactors, since the number of contact members that may be electromagnetically actuated by windings controlled by control circuits of the present invention may be paralleled by any number of contact members establishing electrical contact with poles of difierent live line conductors.

Also it will be seen that while two windings 32 and 42 are shown in the shunt control circuits for causing circuit closing movement of the main switch contact members, it is apparent that but one winding need be used. Instead of a second winding, a simple resistance of equivalent value may be substituted where it is desired to have balanced control circuits. Otherwise any suitable conductor may be inserted instead of the winding to be eliminated. Thus it is seen that only one magnet winding in the control circuit for closing the main switch is essential to the practice of the present invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and diiierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a plurality of pole members adapted to be connected respectively to line conductors, of a plurality of contact members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members, whereby conducting relations are established between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, electromagnetic means for moving said contact members into circuit-closing contact with said pole members, a control circuit for actuating said electromagnetic means comprising portions adapted to energize said means, said portions being connected respectively about said contact members, and a series connection for said portions normally at the potential of the dead side of said contact members.

2. In an electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a plurality of pole members adapted to be connected respectively to line conductors, of a plurality of contact members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members, whereby conducting relations are tablished between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, electromagnetic means for moving said contact members 130 into circuit-closing contact with said pole members, additional electromagnetic means for moving said contact members away from said pole members into open circuit position, a control circuit foractuating said first mentioned electromag- 135 netio means comprisin portions adapted to energize said means, said portions being connected respectively about said contact members, a series connection for said portions on the dead side of said contact members, and a second control 1 circuit connected across the line and between a load and one of said contact members.

3. In an electrornagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a plurality of pole members ada ted to be connected respectively to line 145 conductors, of a plurality of contact members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members, whereby conducting relations are established between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, electro- 15() magnetic means for moving said contact members into circuit-closing contact with said pole members, additional electromagnetic means for moving said contact members away from said 5 pole members into open circuit position, a control circuit for actuating said first mentioned electromagnetic means adapted to energize said, means, said portions being connected respectively about said contact members, a series connection for said portions on the dead side of said contact members, a second control circuit connected across the line and between a load and one of said contact members, and a unitary control device having switch arm 16} members adapted to control both the portions of said circuit-closing control circuit and said circuit-breaking control circuit.

l. In a multi-pole electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a plurality of 20 contactors adapted to make and break respectively electric circuits, of an actuating member adapted to move said contactors simultaneously for circuit making or circuit breaking positions, electromagnetic means comprising a winding adapted for moving said actuating member into circuit-closing position, a control circuit for energizing said winding having portions connected respectively in shunt about said contactors, and a series connection for said portions including a portion of the normally dead line supplied when said contactors are in circuit-closing position.

5. In a multi-pole electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a plurality of contactors adapted to make and'br ak respectively, electric circuits, of an actuating member adapted to move said contactors simultaneously for circuit making or circuit breaking positions, electromagnetic means comprising a winding do; adapted for moving said actuating member into circuit-closing position, additional electromagnetic means comprising a winding for moving said actuating member into circuit-open position, a control circuit for energizing said first 4 5;; mentioned winding having portions adapted to be connected in shunt respectively about said contactors, a second control circuit for energizing said second mentioned winding connected about one of said contactors and having connec- 5Q ;tions with different sides of the line when said contactor is in circuit-closed position, and means for connecting in series the shunted portions of said first mentioned control circuit, said means being connected to be at line potential when 55, said contactors are in closed circuit position.

(jg-adapted to move said contactors simultaneously for circuit making or circuit breaking positions, electromagnetic means comprising a winding adapted for moving said actuating member into circuit-closing position, additional electromagnetic means comprising a winding for moving said actuating member into circuit-open position, a control circuit for energizing said first mentioned winding having portions adapted to be connected in shunt respectively about said contactors, a sec- 4'0 0nd control circuit for energizing said second mentioned winding connected between a load and one or" said contactors and having connections with different sides of the line when said contactor is in circuit-closed position, means for connect- .ing in series the shunted portions of said first compris ng portions 7 mentioned control circuit, said means being connected to be at line potential when said contactors are in closed circuit position, and a unitary control switch for said control circuits comprising switch arms adapted to move simultaneously and make and break each portion of said circuits.

'7. In an electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a pair of pole members adapted to be connected, respectively, to live line conductors, of a pair or" contacting members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members whereby conducting relations are established between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, actuating means arranged for bringing said contacting members simultaneously to circuit-open or circuit-closed positions, an electromagnet for causing said actuating means to move to circuit-closing position, a control circuit for energizing said electromagnet comprising portions connected in shunt about each of said contacting members, and means for connecting said shunt portions in series through the normally dead currentconsuming device.

8. In an electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a pair of pole members adapted to be connected, respectively, to live line conductors, of a pair of contacting members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members whereby conducting relations are established between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, actuating means arranged for bringing said contacting members simultaneously to circuit-open or circuit-closed positions, an electromagnet for causing said actuating means to move to circuitclosing position, a second electromagnet for moving said actuating means to circuit-open position, a control circuit comprising two portions connected in shunt respectively about said contacting members, one of said portions having connected in series therewith the first said electromagnet, means connected to be at the potential of the current-consuming device arranged to connect said shunt portions in series, and a second control circuit having said second electromagnet connected in series connected from one side of the live 1i e to a portion of the other side of the line normally dead when said contactor is in circuit-open position.

9. In an electromagnetically-operated switch, the combination with a pair of pole members adapted to be connected, respectively, to live line conductors, of a, pair of contacting members adapted to contact respectively with said pole members whereby conducting relations are established between a normally dead current-consuming device and live line conductors, actuating means arranged for bringing said contacting members simultaneously to circuit-open or circuit-closed positions, an electromagnet for causing said actuating means to move to circuit-closing position, a second electromagnet for moving said actuating means to circuit-open position, a control circuit comprising two portions connected in shunt respectively about said contacting members, one of said portions having connected in series therewith the first said electromagnet, means connected to be at the potential of the current-consuining device arranged to connect said shunt portions in series, a second control circuit having said second electromagnet connected in series from one side of the live line to a portion of the other side or" the line normally dead when said contactor is in circuit-open position, and a control switch device having switch arms adapted make and break simultaneously each portion of said circuit-closing control circult, one of switch arms being adapted also to control the circuit-opening control circuit.

ii). In an elec agnetically-operated switch, the combination with a pair of movable linebreaking main sa -"ch members, of cooperating stationary cont l embers adapted to be connected, respectively to main line conductors, actuating means i moving the said main switch members clean ously to circuit-opening and circuit-closing positions, a pair of electromagnets for mov ng said ctuating means into circuitclosing position, a single elec "omagnet for moving said actuati means into circuit-open position, a control circuit having portions each of which has one or said circuit clo ing electromagnets connected in series therewith, each of said portions being connected to the line conductors in shunt about in switch members, and adapted to col in series through the load, and a seco control circuit having con nested in series ewitli said circuit-opening electromagnet, sa a second control cbcuit being connected cm a line conductor on one or" one main switch member to a line conductor on the other side of the other in n switch member.

11. In apparatus of the cha 1 described, in combination, a source oi curl ent, a load, switching means interposed between source and said load, electrically c cted across said switchi g for cont 5 a function of said switching ns, and means for controlling said last named means.

12. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source or current, a load, switchcans including a plurality of opening con tacts interposed between said source and said load, means i r controlling a function or" said switching means shimted across said contacts, and for controlling said last named means.

13. In apparatus of the character described in combination, a 501 cc of current, a load, switching means for completely disconnecting said load from said source interposed between said source and said load, electromagnetic means interconnecting said load and said source for controlling a function of said switching means, and means for controlling said last named means.

14. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a load, switching means for completely disconnecting said load from said source interposed between said source and said load, electromagnetic means for closing said switching means electrically shunted across said switching means, electromagnetic means for opening said switching means shunted across said load and between said switching means and said load, and means for controlling said two last-mentioned means.

15. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a load, switching means having a plurality of pole members for completely disconnecting said load from source, electromagnetic means for closing said switching means shunted across said pole members, and pressure-actuated means for controlling said electromagnetic means.

16. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a load, switching means having a plurality of pole members for completely disconnecting said load from said source, electromagnetic means -for closing said switching means shunted across said pole members, electromagnetic means for opening said switching means shunted across said load between said switching means and said load, and means for controlling said two las -mentioned means.

it. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a source of current, a load, and circult making breaking means interposed between the current supply and load, electrically operated means for actuating said circuit making and breaking means, and m ans shunted across said load and a part of said circuit m "g and breaking means for controlling the opera on of said actuating means to open said circuit making and break- 1g means shunted across said load.

18. In a circuit or" the character described, in combination, a source of current, a load, and circuit making and breaking means completely interposed between the current supply and load, electrically o crate-d means for actuating said circuit making and breaking means, and means for controlling the operation of said actuating means to open said circuit making and breaking means shunted across said load and a part of said circuit making and breaking means.

19. In a circuit of the class described, a source of current, a load, a switch interposed between said current supply and said load for completely disconnecting said load from said source, and electrically operated actuating means for closing said switch, said means being connected across said switch and in such a way as to receive the full potential thereof when said switch is open, and to receive only a substantially small potential thereof when the switch is closed. 

